Core Clinical Services

At Stony Brook University Neurosciences Institute, we offer a multidisciplinary approach to neurological care. Our range of services, resources, experience, and facilities are unmatched on Long Island. When you come to us, you will have access to state-of-the art technology and the collective expertise of our talented staff. We collaborate with specialists from a wide variety of disciplines, increasing the services available to you and the depth of your care. We will develop a diagnostic and treatment plan specific to your unique needs, doing whatever it takes to ensure a better quality of life for you and your family. We are here to support you every step of the way throughout your care plan.

In addition to the wide-ranging host of clinical services available to you through the Neurosciences Institute, our core supporting services include the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center of Long Island, Audiology and Speech Therapy, the Center for Pain Management, Neuroanesthesiology, the Neurosciences Imaging Center, Neuro-opthalmology, Neuropathology, Neuropsychology, Neurotrauma, Occupational/Physical/Speech Therapy, Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry.

Audiology and Speech Therapy

The speech, language, and hearing staff provides comprehensive evaluation and therapy services to individuals of all ages. People with the following conditions are seen in the department: hearing, balance, tinnitus, auditory processing, feeding/swallowing, speech/language, and voice/voice restoration. We also provide cochlear implant and BAHA assessments, surgeries, and fittings. For further information about the services offered please visit our website.

With a reputation as a leading authority on pain management, Stony Brook Medicine has offered pain management services to the people of Long Island for nearly 30 years. Our university-based program uses the biopsychosocial model of medicine to treat chronic and acute pain, provide palliative care, and improve the functionality and quality of life for our patients. Managing pain with a biopsychosocial approach means that we go far beyond simply prescribing medicine. We also incorporate psychological counseling--especially for patients with chronic pain--to investigate the root causes of pain, work with patients on exercise plans and physical therapy, and utilize appropriate technology. This may include a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit, or a spinal cord stimulator, which tricks the brain into thinking it is not experiencing pain. Our office is equipped to offer both fluoroscopic and ultrasound-guided injection therapy, and we also incorporate alternative therapies such as acupuncture.

We work in partnership with area physicians to offer consultations, diagnoses, plans of treatment, and multidisciplinary care. Approximately 70 percent of our cases involve chronic lower back pain, so we have developed strong working relationships with both spine surgeons and primary care doctors. We have the capabilities and expertise to treat ALL types of chronic and acute pain. For more information on our center, read our brochure or call (631) 638-0800.

Neuroanethesiology

The Anesthesiology Department at Stony Brook University Neurosciences Institute offers acute inpatient pain management services for patients with short-term needs, chronic outpatient pain management services for longer-term issues, and pre-operative services for patients undergoing brain and spinal cord surgery. We use general and local anesthesia and both inhalational (inhaled as gases through a mask) and intravenous (liquid injected in the arm) approaches. Our mission is to ease your pain and anxiety as much as possible, and we will work with you to implement a pain management plan best suited to your particular situation. Our research program is active, and we are pioneering some of the newest anesthesia techniques, the mechanism by which anesthetics work, how they may alter cognitive function, and the conversion of acute to chronic pain.

Neurosciences Imaging Center

At the Neurosciences Imaging Center, we create detailed pictures of your brain and spinal cord by using computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other technologies. We have experience with a wide variety of advanced imaging sequences including diffusion tensor imaging and spectroscopy. In addition, Stony Brook University Hospital has four MRI machines and five CT scanners. Most notably, Stony Brook has three 64-slice instruments and the only 320-slice CT scanner on Long Island. This instrument is ultra-fast and captures images that other technology cannot provide. On both MRI and CT, we utilize ultra-thin slices through the brain and spine to provide the most detailed images possible. These images allow us to carefully assess your condition, which is a necessary step toward developing a successful treatment strategy. Once the necessary imaging is complete, we will discuss the results in detail with you and your family as well as plan for next steps. Our Center for Outpatient Services offers easy access, free parking, valet services, spacious and tranquil public areas, and food services.

For an appointment, please call (631) 638-2121.

Neuro-ophthamology

Our Ophthalmologic Group is committed to providing the best quality care for vision problems that originate in the brain and the eyes themselves. We offer routine care as well as highly specialized evaluation and management of individual and rare conditions including optic neuritis, optic neuropathy, migraine, vision loss, transient vision loss, double vision, eye movement disorders, blepharospasm, droopy eyelid, and other eyelid conditions. Our comprehensive screening services generally involve a combination of an eye exam, visual fields, sensorimotor examination, and physician-patient discussion. If appropriate, you will have access to advanced bioimaging technology including fluorescein angiography, fundus photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), confocal laser scanning imaging (HRT), corneal topography, ultrasonography, and electrophysiology. All of our ophthalmologists have faculty appointments at the SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine and are board-certified, including fellowship training in neuro-ophthalmology, orbital diseases, and ocular complications of systemic diseases. Dr Sibony, Chair and Director of Neuro-ophthalmology, has more than 25 years of experience in the specialty.

To learn more about the Department of Ophthalmology at Stony Brook Medicine, click here.

To learn more about Neuro-ophthalmology at Stony Brook Medicine, click here.

For information on Dr. Sibony, chair and director of Neuro-ophthalmology, click here.

Neuropathology

A neuropathologist is a physician who uses laboratory methods for the diagnosis of disorders of the central nervous system, skeletal muscles, and peripheral nervous system. When a patient has a biopsy of brain, spinal cord, muscle, or nerve, the neuropathologist reads the biopsy.

Many patients with neurological and neuromuscular disorders are not aware that a neuropathologist is involved in their care, but for all patients who have biopsies and even some who do not, the neuropathologist is an integral member of the team of physicians and other professionals involved in their care. These physicians and other health care professionals all work together to determine the best course of therapy for each individual patient. You may not know your neuropathologist, but your neuropathologist knows you.

At Stony Brook Medicine, your neuropathologist employs a high level of expertise to arrive at the correct diagnosis for you and is available and willing to assist you with any concerns that you have regarding your pathology. The support staff of the Department of Pathology consists of many individuals who are deeply committed to helping patients and their families when they have special requests regarding their pathology specimens or reports.

To reach the main office of the Department of Pathology, please call (631) 444-3000.

Neuropsychology

Our Neuropsychology Service addresses the ways in which the brain and nervous system affect cognitive function, emotions, and behavior. We offer detailed evaluations for a range of neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions, including epilepsy, HIV infection, hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury, dementias, autoimmune disorders, brain tumors, and a range of developmental disorders. Our evaluations are crucial for information gathering, as each individual has a unique history and set of symptoms. We test general intelligence, attention and executive functions, language, memory, emotional functioning, personality, and more via paper-and-pencil questionnaires, interviews, and computerized measures. Once we have gathered sufficient information, we will provide support and consultation to guide rehabilitation, treatment, and adaptation to school or work. These may include referral to our clinical staff for one-on-one or group treatment. We also participate, both as principal investigators and co-investigators, in a wide range of research activities relevant to applied and clinical neuroscience.

To make an appointment, please call (631) 444-8053.

Neurotrauma

Neurotrauma at Stony Brook Medicine focuses on the emergency treatment and management of injuries to the spinal cord, head and brain, and peripheral nerves. Stony Brook University Hospital is the only designated Level 1 Trauma center in Suffolk County. We offer comprehensive care through a multidisciplinary team comprised of neurosurgeons, trauma surgeons, emergency physicians, orthopaedic surgeons, critical care doctors, specialty trained nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and respiratory, physical, and occupational therapists. Our six neurosurgeons are highly skilled with a variety of the newest techniques, including minimally invasive craniotomy. Patients who arrive via ambulance or helicopter are transported to our Shock Trauma Unit immediately for emergency evaluation and treatment. Our Neuro Intensive Care Unit provides round-the-clock treatment in a state-of-the-art environment. Stony Brook University Trauma Center is listed in the top 4 percent of centers nationwide by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Our goal is to provide rapid, effective treatment, as "time is brain," meaning the quicker we are able to address the issue, the less likely there will be lasting damage.

Occupational/Physical/Speech Therapy

Stony Brook offers the most diverse occupational, physical, and speech therapy services in Suffolk County. We provide support for patients with acute and chronic neurologic conditions resulting from surgery, injury, or illness. Our skilled therapists will perform a comprehensive evaluation to assess neuromuscular health and to make individualized recommendations for your plan of care. We will discuss all aspects of your care openly and honestly, include your goals in the care plan, and communicate with any referring physicians about your progress and treatment. Our 11,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art outpatient therapy center in East Setauket is equipped with a heated therapeutic pool, computerized balance equipment, body weight supported treadmill, cardiac telemetry, a full range of exercise machines, and locker rooms. Our physical therapists provide a variety of techniques, including neuromuscular re-education, balance and coordination activities, gait training, strengthening, range of motion, endurance training, and biofeedback. Our occupational therapists focus on improving an individual's overall performance of daily living activities through the use of neuromuscular and sensorimotor re-education, coordination/dexterity, upper extremity range of motion and strength, cognition, visual perception, splinting, and adaptive equipment. Your performance needs for home, workplace, and/or school are considered in the development of your treatment plan. Our speech services are available to treat patients with head injury, developmental disability, language and speech, hearing and vision, and eating and swallowing impairments, and other neurological problems.

At Stony Brook University Neurosciences Institute, pediatric neurologists and Suffolk County's only board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon have the expertise to provide specialized care for your infants, toddlers, and adolescents. We specialize in the surgical and medical treatment of pediatric neurological disorders such as hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury, brain and spine tumors, epilepsy, and autism. We strive to achieve cure by using the least invasive methods possible to reduce pain and complications. Essential to the follow-up care for neurotrauma and serious head injuries is our pediatric intensive care unit (ICU). The Pediatric ICU is the only Pediatric-specific ICU in the county with pediatric surgery coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As part of Stony Brook's dedication to the care of the children and adolescents of Long Island, the leadership launched a commitment to build Stony Brook Children's Hospital (click here for more information). Stony Brook Children's will be the only children's hospital west of the Nassau/Queens border to offer state-of-the-art technology and world-class physicians, nurses, and medical researchers working in collaboration to promote the health and well-being of Long Island's children and adolescents.

Pediatric Neurology — To make an appointment with one of our Pediatric Neurologists, please call (631) 444-2599.Pediatric Neurosurgery — To make an appointment with Dr. Michael Egnor or Dr. David Chesler, our Pediatric Neurosurgeons, please call (631) 444-1213 (Option 1).